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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J.T.ROBERTSON. PLATE PRINTING PRESS.

No. 541,985. Patented July 2;.1895.

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' J. T. ROBERTSON.

PLATE PRINTING PRESS. No. 541,985. Patented July 2, 1895.

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uiii NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUDAH TOURO ROBERTSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PLATE-PRINTING PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 541,985, dated July 2, 1895,

Application filed July 10, 1894- Serial No. 517,135. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, J UDAH TOURO ROBERT- s0N,acitizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plate-Printing Presses; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. i

This invention relates to steam plate-printing machines; and its object is to provide means whereby plates of different sizes may be printed from on the same machine at the same time without incurring the danger of soiling the back of the sheet printed from the large plate with the dirt which may have been picked up from the small plate. Its 0bjeet is also to use plates of different characters, demanding different treatment as regards pressure, 850., to be so printed from. For this purpose a machine embodying my invention comprises two printing or blanket rollers,in combination with two or more movable beds, for carrying the engraved plates, the beds and the blanket-rollers being provided with such meansand so arranged that one of the blanket-rollers shall engage only with certain of the movable beds, so as to print from their plates, while the other printing-roller shall engage only with the remainin g movable beds to print from their plates.

My invention, moreover, comprises such other features, details, and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

. In the drawings accompanying this specification, Figure 1 represents a plan view of a steam plate-printing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2,aside elevation or end view of the same; Figs. 3 and 4, vertical sections transversely through the printing or blanket rollers and showing the latter in different positions; Fig. 5, a vertical section on line 5 5, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a detail of the beds.

By referring to the drawings it will be noted that I have therein applied my invention to what is known as the Milligan press, which is described, for example, in United States Patent No.180,490, dated August 1, 1876.

' described;

form of D-rollers and normally present theircog c on a vertical spindle 0 which carries at its upper end a sprocket-wheel o engaging with a chain or carrier 0, which passes around three other sprocket-wheels or idlers c c 0 the four sprocket-wheels, as shown, being arranged in a quadrangle. The carrier-chain 0 serves to continuously feed the plate-carrying bed-blocks D D from theinking and wiping attachments to under the printingrollers, and vice versa. These bed-blocks are mounted on the carrier-chain in any suitable manner, preferably by means of pins or studs cl, arranged on the chain 0 at suitable intervals and extending upward into recesses or mortises d in the lower surfaces of the bed. The chain G is located in a suitable recess in the frame, and the bed-blocks D D are guided in the recessed track formed bythe outer rim or flange D and the central quadrangular plate D The mechanism thus far described differs in no material respect from what is old and well known, and my invention resides in what is now to be described.

E E represent a pair of pressure-rollers journaled in the machine-frame below the path of the bed-blocks D D, and over these pressure-rollers isjournaled a pair of printing or blanket rollers F F coacting with the bedblocks D D, respectively, in a manner to be These blanket-rollers are in the flat surfaces fdownward to the bed of the machine, (see Fig. 2,) being yieldingly held in such position by any suitable means, such as, in the present instance, cords g, having weights G attached to their lower endsand wound around collars or pulleys f secured to the shafts of the printing or blanket rollers F F. In order to arrestthem in their normal position, the rollers are providedwith toes f adapted to strike against detents f 3 on the machine-frame. As shown, the blanket-rollers are provided each with a device for on gaging one of the bed-blocks in the shape of a tappet or starting-lug at one of its ends, the bed-block engaging device II of one roller being at the end opposite that H on the other roller. These engaging or tappet devices coact with corresponding engaging or starting devices in the form of projections I I on the bed-blocks D D, respectively.- The projection I, which is adapted to engage the tappet H, is arranged on one side of the bed-block D, while the projection 1, adapted to engage with the tappet H on roller F, is on the opposite side of the bed-block D.

The rollers F and F are covered with the usual blanket or clothing of yielding material f, the coating of one roller F being of a difping or starting the same.

ferent character from that of the other roller, so that the extent of the pressure and the nature of the impression taken will be different for the two blanket-rollers, as required by the engraved plates K K, mounted on the bedblocks D D, which are represented of differ ent sizes, and which may bear engravings of diiferent characters requiring different treatment.

The operation of the mechanism thus far described is as follows: Assuming the parts to occupy the positions indicated in Fig.1 and the driving mechanism to be started, it will be seen that the bed-block D, bearing the plate K as it passes under the rollers, will pass clear of the roller F, there being no tappet from this roller in the path of the starting projection I. (See Fig.3.) As the bedblock D passes under the roller F, however, the starting projection I strikes against the tappet H, on the blanket-roller F, thus trip The parts then occupythe positions indicated in Fig. 4, the blanket-roller F now bearing on the plate K and the further progress of the latter causing the same to complete its revolution until the plate passes beyond or out of the bite of the said roller, when the latter will be returned to its normal or dormant position, Fig. 3, by virtue of the cord and weight g G. When the bed-block D with its plate K passes under the roller F, its starting-lug I will impinge against the tappet H on the said roller F and cause it to revolve and make the impression in the same way as the roller F was caused to revolve and printby the starting-lugI impinging against the tappet II. In Fig. 5 I have indicated the roller F after having been started and completed about half a revolution. As the bed-block D passes under the roller F, however, the latter is not affected, but remains dormant, there being no tappet on the same in the path of the starting projection I of the bed-block D. The bed-block and plate K hence clear this roller, passing under its cut-away portion. In this way it will be seen that two plates of different character, requiring different-treatment and differing press, ures, may be printed from one machine at the same time, the impressions alternating with each other. In some cases I may use two further bed-blocks in addition to D and D, on

which duplicates of the plates K K may be mounted. These additional bed-blocks, which are indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, are equipped, like D and D, with starting projections for the rollers F and F.

The capacity of the machine may be still further enlarged by adding two further blanket-rollers with corresponding tappets at opposite sides and providing two further bedblocks with starting projections arranged on opposite sides, which sides would be at right I only a small number of impressions of one and the same design. It is for work of this character where the ad vantages of my invention are apparent, for, with a steam plateprinting press constructed under the same, I may print a number of small jobs at the same time and print from plates having two or four diiferent designs engraved thereon, thus obviating the necessity of reproducing the plates, or at the utmost necessitating only the duplication of the same, thus reducing the expense of engraving to one-fourth oronehalf, and yet enabling me to avail myself of the steam plate-printing press in an economical manner.

My invention differs essentially from the plate-presses which merely use two impression rollers for the purpose of multiplyii'ig impressions from, and which operate in conjunction with, double inking and cleaning or wiping mechanisms or methods. These are merely double printing presses mounted in one frame. My invention is distinguished from these by the fact that under it tho printing-rollers print from plates of varying conditions, each plate selecting and starting its own printing-roller automatically. Under my invention only one inking mechanism and only one wiping mechanism are employed for the two blanket-rollers. These inking and wiping mechanisms are not shown, not being necessary to an understanding of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a plate printing press, a plurality of plate carrying bed-blocks adapted to travel in the same continuous path, in combination with a plurality of printing or impression rollers having a single printing or impression face, and means whereby each printing or impression roller shall be actuatedonly by certain of the bed-blocks and print only from the plate carried by said bed-blocks, substantially as set forth for the purpose speci- 2. In a plate printing press, two or more plate carrying bed-blocks adapted to travel over the same continuous path, in combination with two printing or impression rollers, and means whereby one of the printing or impression rollers will be actuated only by one of the bed-blocks and print fromits plate and the other printing or impression rollers will be actuated by the other bed-blocks and print from their plates, substantially as set forth.

3. In a plate printing press, two or more plate carrying bed-blocks adapted to travel over the same continuous path, each roller being provided with differently disposed starting devices, in' combination with two printing or impression rollers each provided with differently disposed engaging devices, the engaging device on one roller being adapted to be engaged by the starting device of certain of the bed-blocks and the roller actuated by said bed-blocks and the engaging de-' bed-blocks and actuated thereby, substantially as set forth. I

4. In a plate printing press, a plurality of plate carrying bed-blocks adapted to travel in the same continuous path, in combination with a plurality of printing'or impression rollers provided with a single printing or in pression face, and adapted to have an intermittent movement, and means whereby each printing or impression roller shall be actuated only by certain of the bed blocks and print only from the plate carried by said bed-blocks, substantially as set forth. I

5. In a plate printing press, a plurality of plate carrying bed-blocks adapted to travel in the same continuous path, in combination with a plurality of printing or impression rollers provided with a single printing orimpression face and adapted to have an intermittent partial revolution,and means whereby each printing roller shall be actuated only by certain of the bed-blocks during their travel and print only from the plate carried by said bed-blocks, substantially as set forth.

(5. In a plate printing press, a plurality of plate carrying bed-blocks adapted to travel in the same continuous path, in combination with a plurality of printing or impression rollers each provided with a single printing or impression face and adapted to have a partial intermittent revolution, means whereby each printing or impression roller will be actuated only by certain of the bed-blocks and print only from the plate carried by said bedblocks, and means for returning said printing or impression roller to its normal position and hold its printing or impression face out of contact with the plates carried by the other bed-blocks, substantially as set forth.

7. In a plate printing press, a plurality of plate carrying bed blocks adapted to travel in the same continuous path, in combinaton with a plurality of printing or impression rollers located over the path of travel of the bed-blocks and having a single printing or impression face, and adapted to have an intermittent partial revolution, means whereby each printing or impression roller will be actuated only by certain of the bed-blocks and print only from the plate carried by said bedblocks, and means for returning said printing or impression roller to its normal position and hold its face out of contact with the plates carried by the other bed-blocks as they pass under said roller, substantially as set forth.

8. In a plate printing press, a single series of inking, Wiping and polishing devices and a plurality of plate carrying bed-blocks adapted to travel over the same continuous path, in combination with a plurality of printing or impression rollers having a single printing or impression face, means whereby each printing or impression roller shall be actuated only by certain of the bed-blocks and print blocks being provided with a starting device or projection adapted to engage only the tappet of one of the rollers and actuate the said roller and the other bed blocks being provided with a starting device or projection adapted to engage only the tappets of the other roller and actuate the same, substan tially as set forth.

10. In a plateprinting press, the printing or impression rollers, cut away at their normally downward surfaces, and each provided with a tappet, the tappet on one roller being arranged at the end opposite the tappet on the other roller, in combination with two or more plate carrying bed-blocks adapted to travel in the same continuous path, one or more of the bed-blocks being provided with a starting device or projection adapted to engage only the tappet of one of the rollers and actuate said roller, and the other bed-blocks being provided with a starting device or projection adapted to engage only the tappets of the other roller and actuate the same, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JUDAII TOURO ROBERTSON.

Witnesses:

LOUIS B. GREGORY, D. E. WOODHULL.

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